Five Elements Grandmaster: "The Eighty-Eight Corner True Yang Tower was an omen, and the founding of the Hundred-Legs Family is an unmistakable signal. Soon, the golden shadow hovering over the Northern Plains will gradually dissipate."
"Because this is the great tide of the Northern Plains' human path!"
"You say I was influenced by the will of Heaven? Not at all! I was swept here by this great tide of the human path. Immortal Venerable Juyang's prestige can no longer intimidate me—he has been dead too long!"
"In the future, there will be even more Immortal Gu Masters dissatisfied with the Golden Families, coveting your wealth. The Northern Plains is rife with war, and its Immortal Gu Masters are fierce and passionate in temperament. Oppression will only breed more frenzied and desperate resistance."
"I am merely the first to explore Longevity Heaven. In the future, more will come. And are you… ready?"
Silence.
Some of the Eight Extremity Lords trembled with rage, while others wore expressions frosty as ice.
The Heavenly Extremity Lord, his face ashen, forced a smile: "What an Eighth Transformation Immortal Gu Master you are, what a fine Five Elements Grandmaster. You mean to persuade us that rather than being crushed by this great tide, we should embrace it—emulate the Gong Family, welcome more rogue cultivators and Demonic Path members, and recruit an Eighth Transformation Immortal Gu Master like yourself?"
"We have no mortal enmity between us. We can cooperate," the Five Elements Grandmaster said in a deep voice. "The Four Wastes Immortals are all Eighth Transformations, but their lifespans are nearly spent—they cannot act freely. I, however, have no such constraint."
The Heavenly Extremity Lord burst into wild laughter: "Hahaha! Just you? You underestimate the foundation of our Golden Clan far too much! Or perhaps you underestimate Ancestor Juyang! Were it not for you, the Eight Extremity Lords would have already mobilized to rebuild the Eighty-Eight Corner True Yang Tower. And that so-called Hundred-Legs Family is nothing but a fleeting mirage. Impure-blooded mongrels wanting to involve themselves in the Righteous Path? Heavenly Lord Centipede? Is he even worthy?! The Righteous Path of the Northern Plains' Immortal Gu world is our Golden Clan!"
Liu Family main base.
Xuan Bai Blessed Land.
"Ah, this is the Longevity Decree!" The Liu Family's Supreme Grand Elder was shocked and hastily knelt to receive the decree.
The Liu Family was a superpower—one of the Golden Tribes, a lineage of Immortal Venerable Juyang's descendants.
Longevity Heaven, meanwhile, was Immortal Venerable Juyang's Ninth Transformation Cave Heaven, representing supreme authority among the Golden Tribes.
The Liu Family's Supreme Grand Elder accepted the transmitted Longevity Decree.
The decree was brilliant gold throughout, shaped like a command token, but was in essence an Information Path Immortal Gu.
He sensed it briefly and understood the message within.
The Supreme Grand Elder frowned: "Longevity Heaven has issued a command for the Golden Tribes to unite against the Hundred-Legs Family?"
This order caught him somewhat off guard.
Heavenly Lord Centipede's battle with Chu Du—every Immortal Gu Master in the Liu Family had been quite pleased to see it. The Hundred-Legs Family had swallowed the Hei Family, bringing its territory border to border with the Liu Family. Backed by an Eighth Transformation Immortal Gu Master, the Liu Family's attitude had been one of extreme caution, tinged with underlying apprehension.
As for Chu Du, he had old enmity with the Liu Family. Most of his reputation as the Domineering Immortal had been built on the Liu Family's backs.
The two clashing—from the Liu Family's perspective—was simply dogs fighting dogs. The Liu Family watched from the mountaintop, wishing both sides would exhaust each other.
Chu Du's troubles had been a satisfying vent for the Liu Family's anger; Heavenly Lord Centipede had essentially avenged them.
If Heavenly Lord Centipede took a loss, the Hundred-Legs Family's prestige would plummet, which was excellent for the Liu Family. No one liked having a fierce tiger lying next door. A weak neighbor was far preferable to a strong one.
"But now that the Longevity Decree has been issued, our Liu Family has no choice but to comply."
"Our Liu Family borders the Hei Family. Once this battle begins, the pressure we face will likely be several times greater than what the other families endure."
The Supreme Grand Elder left his own message within the Longevity Decree Immortal Gu, then released it. The decree shot off through the sky.
Next, this Immortal Gu would visit the other Golden Families in succession.
Time returned to the present.
Inside the Hei Fan Cave Heaven.
Receiving this news, Chu Du and Fang Yuan were both shocked and delighted.
"The major Righteous Path superpowers and Golden Families are all attacking the Hundred-Legs Family together. With this, Heavenly Lord Centipede will have no choice but to retreat," Fang Yuan said with a smile.
"The Golden Families, who are always outwardly harmonious but inwardly at odds, have actually unified their actions—and so swiftly. I wonder what changed," Chu Du said, puzzled.
A sharp light flashed in Fang Yuan's eyes: "I suspect Longevity Heaven issued the order."
"Longevity Heaven?" Chu Du's expression shifted slightly. He considered for a moment. "That's likely the case."
In truth, the power structure of the Northern Plains' Immortal Gu world bore a strong resemblance to that of the Central Continent.
The Central Continent had the Ten Great Ancient Sects; the Northern Plains had the superpowers of the great Golden bloodlines. The Central Continent had the Heavenly Court towering above all; the Northern Plains had Longevity Heaven reigning over the skies.
Even more similar was that the Ten Great Ancient Sects were originally sub-sects of the Heavenly Court, and Longevity Heaven likewise held tremendous influence over the Golden Families of the Northern Plains.
Perhaps, back in the day, Immortal Venerable Juyang had modeled the Northern Plains' structure after the Central Continent, deliberately crafting it in that image.
"Why has Longevity Heaven suddenly ordered the Golden Families to join forces against the Hundred-Legs Family? The Hundred-Legs Family has an Eighth Transformation Immortal Gu Master backing them," Chu Du pondered, growing more puzzled.
What baffled him most was that if Longevity Heaven wanted to deal with the Hundred-Legs Family, the optimal moment to strike would have been at the fall of the Hei Family.
But at that time, Longevity Heaven had done nothing. Why act only now? Could it be that Longevity Heaven was also interested in the Hei Fan Cave Heaven?
At this possibility, Chu Du's heart sank.
"Regardless, we need to seize the time and negotiate peace with Heavenly Lord Centipede to end this conflict. Immortal Gu No and Care were prepared precisely for this moment," Fang Yuan reminded him.